Means for heating the contents of vending machines



HAEQWW July 3, 1923.

6W0: no 1 4.

CHARLES IJ- IPAINE, OF INDIANAPOLIS. INDIANA.

MEANS FOR HEATING THE CONTENTS OF VENDING IEACHINES.

Application filed March 30, 1921. Serial No. 456,889.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, Cinemas L. PAINE, a citizen of the United States, residing at Indianapolis, in the county of Marion and State of Indiana, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Means for Heating the Contents of Vending- Machines, of which the following is aspecification.

This invention relates to means for heating the contents of vending machines and is primarily adapted for use in connection with nut vending machines for the purpose of vending nuts in a heated condition.

The feature of. the invention is the provision of an electrical heating device which is placed in the interior of the vending machine and so positioned that portion thereof will extend over the pocket containing the charge ofv nuts to be vended so that these nuts will be heated as well as those in the body of the machine.

' Other objects and advantages will be hereinafter more fully set forth and pointed out in the accompanying specification.

In the accompanying drawings,

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a vending machine with the heating device applied thereto, and

Figure 2 isa side elevation of the vending machine partly in section.

Referring to the drawings, 1 indicates the base portion of the vending machine which is preferably constructed of metal and formed in any preferred manner, said base portion supporting a bowl 2 preferably of glass in which the commodity to be vended is placed and when the machine is used for vending peanuts a sliding pocket 3 is positioned below a. slot 4 in the top wall 5 of the base, said pocket discharging a measured quantity of the nuts at each operation or outward movement thereof.

In order to maintain the nuts in heated condition at all times, a heating device 6 is positioned within the bowl 2 and rests upon the wall 5 of the base 1, said heating device preferably having a flange 7 at its lower end which fits the diameter of the lower end of the bowl and holds the heating device cen trally of the bowl, the flange 7 having a slot 8 which registers with the slot In order to heat the nuts which are contained within the pocket 3 the heating device 6 is so positioned that it will project over the edge of the slot and partially over the nuts within the pocket, consequently the nuts within the pocket will be heated and maintained in a heated condition the as the nuts withln the lower part of the bowl and surrounding the heating device until such time as the pocket is operated to discharge the nuts therein.

' The heating device 6 is connected to a source of electricity through wires 9, the ends of the wires connected with the heating element proper being preferably encased in a tube or cover 10 of suitable length and serving to keep the wires in proper position and to protect them against injury by accu- Inuiations of salt and grease which would tend to cause short circuits and thus give with the said element which is usually made up of small wires that become intensely hot.

Other means for the same purpose will occur to those skilled in the art, such as, e. g., an

electric current of low voltage through the resistance element.

The heating device may be made of any suitable size and length so as to accommodate the same for heating a greater or less quantity of nuts, and may be constructed to fit in any sized vending machine, a container of desirable form as shown in the drawing, by the use of which only a small quantity of nuts near the bottom will be heated. Those in the upper enlarged portion will receive some heat and be warmed to an increasing; degree as they approach the bottom of the machine and are progressively removed therefrom. Preferably the heating element is made in the form shown with an apertured plate fitting within the lower por tion of the storage compartment and an upwardly projecting portion centrally located in the compartment. In this way the plate will keep its proper position with its aper ture in register with the delivery pocket and the vertical heating device will have the best effect with the least waste of heat. The nuts or other materials surrounding the device 6 act to some extent as a heat insulator The casing ill) to prevent undue radiation to and through the wall 01": the machine. I may use storage compartments of various forms and may modify the device in other respects, the true scope of the invention being indicated by the appended cli. s. lVhile specific terms are used in the claims it is not desired. for example to limit the machine to the heatng of peanuts since popcorn, salted or unsalted peanuts, chestnuts. chinkapins and other articles or materiais Whose Flavor is improved. by heating may be vended by a machine so heated. Therefore it will. be seen hat such terms are used il or purposes of description and not for limitation.

Having thus fully dcscribed my said invention. What I claim as new and desire to secure by LettersPatent is:

i; A vending machine for peanuts and the like comprising a heat-generating device encased in a protecting .11 positioned in contact With the con s of the machine, whereby such contents may he maintaii'ied in heated condition Without scorching.

A vending" machine for co 'nbustible products comprising a st rage compartment means for Withdrawn such pro nets in predetermined quantities, and an electrical. heating device positioned Within the storage. compartment for maintaining the products in heated cone. ion and cor grisi a protect-ing cas ng to prevent the scorching oi said contents, substantially set forth.

The combination with a vending ina-- chine ha ing; a nut receiving bowl and a nut receiving nochet at a point below the bowl. oi a hen. up; device in the bOWl for heating the Contcnts o'l said howl.v said heating device projecting; p.1 tiallv over said pocket to engage the contents thereof tor heating the same. substantially as set forth.

4C. The combination with a nut vending; machine including a oortion and a bowl oort... in, of a heating device positioned within said bowl portion. having a 'i'lfl 5c adapt-- ed toe-est upon parts of the base poi LlOll and hold the heating device in spaced relation With the bowl.

5. In combination... a vending machine for salted pea u s and the J machine having a storage comparti an electric be c" ant.

heater therefor comprising cylindrical. casino cont "Dir res stance element and ftanr p: in the compartment. er elongated tubular protector of grease-excluding; ma terial erit'tendinsr upward from said casing. Wires leading f om the resistance clement througgi said protector and out of the compai ent, said protector safeguarding the Wires against the action of grease and salt. substantially as set forth.

6. A vending machine havii a storage compartment and an outlet. therefrom, a removable cover tor the storaoe compartment, an electric heating device in the storcompartment adjacent the outlet, said cover havin an aperture, a lamp carried by the cover. electric Wires passing through said aperture to the heating device and the lamp and a greaseprooi casing extending upward from said heating device and surrounding the Wires connected tl'iereto substantia lv as setforth.

7. A vending machine for peanuts and t1 e like having a storage compartment with a transparent Wall, a vertically-extending heating device centrally arranged in the comparnncnt and forming therewith an annular space whereby articles occupying said space -\i'ili be heated and will serve to prevent radiation of heat to and through said Wall. substantially as set forth.

8. In a peanut Warmer. a receptacle for position in said compartment said heating;

means being; provided With a protector to prevent scorching of said products.

10. The combination With a vending ma chine having; a nut receiving lJOWl and a nut d spensing; and measuring pocket at a point below the bowl, ot a heating device in the lJOWl for heat ng the contents of said bowl, said heating device disposed adjacent said pocket to he in proximity to the contents thereoi for maintaining the same in a heated condition. substantiallv as set forth.

11. in a vending machine for food products a storage con'ipartinent. means to dis charge said pr ducts in uniform quantities. electrical heatine means dispo .d adjacent said first named means and provided ith a protector to prevent scorching; of said products, substa. lv as set forth.

19'. in a vendin machine for food prodstoragi e cor pertine t. means t6 dise said produc or n quantities electrical heating means d osed adjacent the discharging means. and having: provision to prevent scorching of said products, substantiallp as set Forth.

In witness whereof. I have hereunto set my hand 21': l seal at Indianapolis, Indiana, this 22nd day of i i larch, A. ll. nineteen hundred and twenty-one. 

